Biggest Loser Cookbook - Idiot Proof Start To The New You!!!! Seriously!!

I received this book for christmas. Before you say, "how rude", I asked for a diet cookbook, so relax.
Just spent the morning flagging all the recipes I want to try.

This book is seriously idiot proof. It explains things in a sentence that others will write chapters on, to say the same gawd damn thing.

For example: Many people will ask how much is a "serving". Which is key to weight loss and eating right. How many times have you read chapters, walked away still not know the answer? Answer: A serving of ANY food is 8 oz. or the size of your palm. If you have paws for hands, use your common sense, or buy a kitchen scale, at a kitchen store for $10-$30.

The other thing I found super easy, was the calorie intake YOU should be taking based on your current starting weight. Here is the formula:  Take your current weight, multiply it by 7. That is your starting calorie intake. EASY! For every pound you lose, deduct another 10 calories. AGAIN EASY! That is until you reach your goal weight.  Then maintain.

There are no gadgets. No magical tricks or pills. Eating right, and working out.

Invest in proper workout gear, a swimsuit, and runners. Everything else will be inexpensive.
No gym is really needed. Find a playground with a good selection of monkey bars, balance teir-ter-tarters, rope gyms etc. you can do everything there, that you can at a gym, and it's free!!! Just be sure not to go when its full of kids, otherwise you're going to be that creepy person. Go after 5pm when most kids are at home having dinner and doing their homework.

If a traditional gym works for you, be sure to go, otherwise you're wasting your money.
Try indoor rock climbing,snowshoeing (I just did 10 kms.. killer cardio), yoga, swimming etc.

In addition to the above, I personally will be using a local rec centre near my home. Cost the same as a gym, but has an ice rink, pool, aqua classes, lengths (and lessons available) sauna, hot tub, steam room, gym, personal trainers(extra). I also will be trying my hand at using the driving range again. it's been a few years, and worried about how it will affect my neck injury. Help or hinder? We'll find out soon.

I am currently talking to a girl I went to school with who has always had weight issues, whereas I was an athlete when we knew each other. She recently lost 150 lbs, and has kept the majority of it off.
We discussing workout methods, and sports, and it turns out we like the same things.. hate the gym.

So we're going to be workout buddies. Not always together, but will be holding eachother accountable, motivated, and moving forward with our goals.

I'm not looking forward to the before pictures I'm having my roommate take tonight. We've decided that we'll update those photos every three months. Not sure if I'll post them here or not.. we'll see.
That way I can keep a journal of pictures, older/bigger clothes, so I can see the results. Might post those too at some point. I will be keeping a journal of starting weight, height, workouts, etc. So if I do succeed at this, then it can be beneficial to someone else.

There will be tears. throwing yourself on the floor tears. I have no doubt. I've spoken with friends, who understand that this is not going to be easy. Who will not let me feel sorry for myself, and will keep my motivated. However, also knowing when to just let me have the meltdown, so I can recharge and get back at it.

I've been heavier for 12 years now. I've always owned my weight, dressed for my body type. Now for the first time, I am no longer owning it. I don't love my body, myself. That has to change. I don't want to be the "fat friend with a great personality". The personality will stay, the weight will go!!!

P.S.
I just came back from the grocery store. Picked a few recipes to try this week. Breakfast, lunches, and dinners... what was the cost you ask? With not a single processed food in the group. (except for the plain low fat yogurt), the cost with tax was $70.26 for the week!!! not bad I'd say.
*Stuff mushrooms
*Chicken curry Pitas
*Breakfast Smoothies
*Califlower/Brocoli cheese thingy
*Mac & Cheese - yup it's in the book!!!
Those are the ones I'm starting with for the week.

2013 In Review.

2013 was a doozie!

It was a year of past ex-boyfriends, new love, family and friend disappointments, and growth. Lots of growth.

I've grown, as we all have. Thankfully, the lessons are being learned a shit load faster, than not. 

I learned horrible things about my ex #1. After having the meltdown of all epic meltdowns.. I picked myself up, got mad, and say goodbye to him forever. 

Ex #2. My first boyfriend. Long story short, we had an emotional affair via skype, text, and phone. It was something we were both well aware was wrong. He's married. Not 100% happily. However, I don't condone what we did, but in the end, we were caught by his wife. 

After speaking with her, apologizing, trying to convince her, that yes it was wrong, it was important that she believe it was never my intention to have him leave her. Ever. That wasn't the point of the type of affair we were having.  Granted an emotional affair is almost worse than a physical one. Cos your heart is in it. Not just your body. 

We were both lonely, missing something from our current relationships. We agreed to never see each other in person. We decided that very early on, that if we did, it would take this affair to another level. We didn't want that. Understandably so, she has many things to say, she was hurt, upset, devastated that a marriage she thought was perfect, indeed wasn't. In the end we decided to have a convo with the wife present. Letting her know we had agreed to end our friendship of 25 years, so they could preserve the remainder of their marriage. Whether or not she believed us, I'll never know. Deleted all forms of contact with this ex.   

I fell in love this past year. Fell hard. Probably the hardest I'd ever fallen. I became a fucking wingnut. Although it was also the first time I had been raw, vulnerable, and the most honest I'd ever been with someone else, or myself. In the end, it didn't work out, and it's been a hard pill to swallow. Alas, at the same time, I learned so much about myself. Learned to be myself.  I have needs and wants for a healthy relationship too. Sadly such an amazing man, didn't see the same future I saw for us. Therefore having to amicably end our relationship. Now, we're trying to be friends. Which I would love, though I don't believe that will work out. I think it's more of a slower way to let go of someone without hating them.

I've learned not to sink to the level of the energy vampires at work. There are a few of them. I've decided to kill them with cheerfulness! Not kindness. Kindness is something energy vampires see as a weakness, an easy target. Cheerfulness is like poison to them. 

So far so good it's working, but not without the outloud snide comments in your direction, whilst trying to obtain people to side with them, and then the down right dirty looks. I just smile at them, and thank myself in my head for the strength not to walk up and punch them in the neck.  Grateful to recognise these vampires earlier on, and to rid of them. Look at them as free entertainment.

People can only take advantage of you in gossip, backstabbing, snide rude comments, and lack of respect, if you let them! I hear the comments, and simply don't care, cos they do not matter to me. They are not friends, or people I confide in, or spend time with at, or outside of work. 

I've learned patience. Learned that I do not have to say everything that is on my mind. I know I'm not afraid of confrontation. In short, I'm learning to pick my battles. This applies to work, friends, the roommate, etc. 

I guess I'm more at peace with myself, than I have been in a long time. I own my mistakes, and things that make me unhappy. Accept it, or change it. 

There is my 2013 in review. Sorry it's not horribly exciting. 

 

Why Do We Try So Hard?

Okay maybe you don't. I do. It's a character flaw of mine, I would say. I see the good in most people.

Today I let two people in my life go. I've given them every chance to step up and have their words match their actions. Yet, I'm left disappointed.

What pissed me off the most, is BOTH of them tried to turn it around on me. Which really made me laugh, and confirmed I was making the correct decision to discard them from my life. When I consider someone a friend, not an acquaintance, I put it all in. Occasionally, that's not appreciated. In return, I wasn't even met with the utmost common courtsey and respect.

I made the decision that I was making efforts with people who didn't respect or care. I made it clear to both of them as to why I was essentially breaking up with them as friends.... I owed them that, cos even though they didn't care enough about me to treat me right, I'm not going to stop being me.

I was met with excuses. Lots of excused, and even some lies. The same ones I'd been met with in the past by them. It was predictable. Laughable really, and sadly still disappointing.

I feel relieved.